What is the difference between 304 and 305 stainless steel ?

305 (1Cr18Ni12), Japanese standard is 305. 305 stainless steel contains high nickel, its work hardening rate is low, and it is suitable for various occasions with high requirements for cold forming; 304 (0Cr18Ni9) stainless steel is a universal stainless steel material with stronger rust resistance than 200 series stainless steel materials. It is also relatively good in high temperature resistance, which can reach 1000-1200 degrees.

304 stainless steel has excellent stainless corrosion resistance and good intergranular corrosion resistance. For oxidizing acid, the experiment shows that 304 stainless steel has strong corrosion resistance in nitric acid below the boiling temperature with a concentration of ≤65%. It also has good corrosion resistance to alkaline solutions and most organic and inorganic acids.

The main difference between 305 stainless steel and 304 stainless steel is the nickel content and processing performance. 305 stainless steel has a higher nickel content, which makes it perform better in deep drawing and spinning processes.

Specifically, the nickel content of 305 stainless steel is between 10.5% and 13%, while the nickel content of 304 stainless steel is usually between 8% and 10.5%. This difference makes 305 stainless steel better in welding and bending performance, especially suitable for applications that require deep processing. In short, 305 stainless steel has a lower work hardening rate and is more suitable for complex forming processes.

Differences in application fields
Based on its excellent corrosion resistance and formability, 305 stainless steel is widely used in chemical containers, heat-resistant equipment parts, and electronic components. 304 stainless steel is widely used in construction, home appliances, kitchenware and other fields due to its good comprehensive performance and relatively low cost.